Kei Nishikori to play in Newport this Summer

Written by: Staff on 2nd June 2012

Kei Nishikori to play in Newport this Summer

epa03196747 Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori serves the ball to Spain's Albert Ramos during their third round match at the Conde de Godo tennis tournament in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, 26 April 2012. Nishikori won 7-6(2) and 6-3. EPA/ALBERTO ESTEVEZ |

Japan’s No. 1 & 2 players, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori and world No. 58 Go Soeda will join John Isner, the Bryan Brothers, Milos Raonic, Lleyton Hewitt, and Sam Querrey in an exciting player field at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Japanese tennis star and current world No. 18 Kei Nishikori has committed to play in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., to be held July 9 – 15. One of the hottest young players on tour, Nishikori is an exciting addition to Newport’s strong player field, which also includes defending champion John Isner, 11-time Grand Slam champions the Bryan Brothers, Canadian star and world No. 22 Milos Raonic, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, and Sam Querrey, who was a finalist at Newport in 2009. Go Soeda, current world No. 58 and Japan’s No. 2 player will also join countryman Nishikori in the dynamic field.

“We’re really looking forward to a fantastic week of great tennis at Newport this summer,” said Tournament Director Mark Stenning. “Our player field indicates some exciting matches, and there’s no better place for fans to get close to the action than our facility. Every seat offers a great view, and with these players, there will certainly be a lot to see this summer.”

Tickets for the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships are on sale now on tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-FAME (3263).

Nishikori has compiled a 15-9 record so far this season. He started the season on a high with his best Grand Slam result when he advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, upsetting then world No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the way. In doing so, Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in 80 years. Also this season, he was a quarterfinalist at Barcelona and Buenos Aires. Nishikori reached a career-high No. 16 on the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings in March, after advancing to the Round of 16 at Miami.

Last year was an important season for Nishikori, during which he was a two-time finalist (Basel, Houston), and he jumped from world No. 98 at the season’s start to finish ranked world No. 25 on the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings. En route to the Basel final, he defeated then world No. 7 Thomas Berdych and then world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Nishikori captured his first ATP World Tour title at Delray Beach in 2008. Ranked No. 244 when he entered the tournament, Nishikori qualified and then defeated Sam Querrey and James Blake en route to the victory.

Go Soeda will make his third appearance in Newport, where he made it to the second round in 2010 and the third round of qualifying in 2009. This season, Soeda has jumped from No. 120 to No. 58 on the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings. He achieved his best ATP World Tour result earlier this year, advancing to the semifinals at Chennai, where he defeated two top-50 players along the way- Ivan Dodig and Stanislas Wawrinka. Additionally, Soeda has won three Challenger tournaments this season- Honolulu; Pingguo, China; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and he was a finalist at the Singapore Challenger event.

In addition to a week of pro tennis, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships will feature great special events, highlighted by the 2012 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 14. At this grand celebration, the highest honor in tennis will be presented to former world No. 1’s Jennifer Capriati and Guga Kuerten, Spanish tennis star Manuel Orantes, tennis industry innovator Mike Davies, and wheelchair tennis great Randy Snow, who will be inducted posthumously

For additional information and to order tickets, please call the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263) or visit www.tennisfame.com.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Bob Bryan Mike Bryan, Campbell's Hall of Fame, Go Soeda, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, JohnIsner, Kei Nishikori, Lleyton Hewitt, milos raonic, Sam Querrey, Tennis Champions